Monday, February 20, 2012

It has been the greatest fun these last eight weeks to spend time with just you (and Daniel). I have seen a side of you that I didn't even know was there. Here are a few things I have noticed about you:

1. You love to talk. You talk to nice old ladies in the store, to yourself, to your Puppy, to Zay, to everybody.

2. You are fiercely protective of me and Daniel. My favorite moment was when we visited with my boss and you told him I was your mom and Daniel was your baby.

3. You have an amazing imagination. I love playing whales and sharks; mammoths and tiger tooth tigers (aka saber tooth tigers); cars. All of those games end up in a grand fight and you always tell me exactly what I need to do.

4. You LOVE peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You ate one every day, except 2.

5. You are a master negotiator. I think it has to do with that darling smile and those crystal blue eyes.

6. You are much smarter than you give yourself credit for (or than I gave you credit for).

7. You take your cereal "regular" and your coffee with lots of creamer.

Tomorrow will be hard for both of us. But remember, it is only a few weeks until school is over for the year. And then, maybe, God willing, we will get to spend many more days together.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Life in our house often presents itself with situations and conversations that I simply couldn't make up if I even tried.

1) I worked out this morning for the first time in 9 months. It wasn't pretty. When I was done Elijah said, "So, Mom, are you going to loose like 100 pounds?" I replied, "Do you think I need to loose 100 pounds?" "Well, yes. And you should look like that girl in the first Transformers."

2) In the van on the way home from picking up Elijah yesterday John started a sentence with, "You know, when I was a little boy..." I didn't hear the rest because I was laughing too hard.

3) I have recently started laying Daniel down on a small playmat. I hung some toys from it to try to stimulate his little brain. Yesterday when I peaked at him he was smiling and cooing at a little dog, ducky, bunny toy. We affectionately named them, "his little friends".

4) John gravitates between really loving me and really not liking me, depending on which side of the Anderson law he is currently on. One day he got right in my face and told me that he did not like me anymore and would no longer play with me. He was quite suprised when I smiled and told him I didn't really like his behavior but I sure loved him. "Weeelll,(he draws it out southern style) I don't like your behavior and I'm still not going to play with you!"

5) Elijah has decided that a certain 1st grade girl is really pretty and so he spends his recess chasing her or trying to get away from his buddies who try to capture him and bring him to her. We have had several conversations about the Anderson law of not dating until you are 25 and no kissing girls until you are married (except for Mom, Auntie Sara, and Grandmas). Elijah has since decided that the girl is not that pretty afterall because, "She doesn't love Jesus." That's my boy!

Thursday, February 9, 2012

I am reading the book "No Other Gods" by Kelly Minter. Truthfully I am mostly reading it because my dearly beloved bought it for me for Christmas. There isn't a thing in that book that I don't already know. I am sure that sounds prideful or arrogant, however, it is the truth.

Ms. Minter asserts in her book that one of the paramount reasons we all seek idols is because of a "powerful ache of being unloved or perpetually unchosen." I don't disagree. Much of my life has been wrapped up in the pursuit of approval from those around me. And when I don't have people around me, it is in the pursuit of people to get around me so that I can pursue their approval. (Whew! It makes me tired just thinking of all that pursuit.)

But when I look at my life and I look at how I spend my time I know my main idol is the worthless box that sits in my living room flashing pictures and sound at me. I know I should turn it off, unplug it, maybe even throw it away. But I don't want to. That worthless box numbs my mind, gives me a quick "fix" of fiction, allows me to relax.

What I am really missing is a love relationship with my Heavenly Father. What I am really missing is a hunger and thirst for righteousness. What I am really missing is a desire so deep and driving that I can't stop myself from growing closer to Him.

And so I begin the journey of tearing away from the grip of the TV. I pray Psalm 119:37, "Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word." I pray for a hunger and thirst for the word of God because I know it is what sustains man.